Feng Shui for Your Front Door

You can pick up a Feng Shui book and everyone will tell you to paint your front door red to bring in the strong Yang energy. This door is very important because it brings to you the very auspicious energy that will nourish your house. Maybe you don’t like the color red and just maybe the whole housing plan has red doors. Is there any help for you?

These doors located in Pittsburgh, Pa. have the beautiful Victorian colors represented in the entrance area.

All Feng Shui experts will tell you to look at the five elements when doing your Feng Shui. The elements are what helps you put your home or office in balance and keeps you strong and focused.

The following is each element and color that represents them:

• Fire - Red.
• Earth -Yellow. 
• Water - Blue/Black. 
• Metal - Gray/white.
• Wood - Brown/green 

Then you have to consider the following:

1. What is it you are trying to accomplish in your life? In other words, have you set intentions? For example, do you have a home office and need encouragement to keep focused and clear on what you are to accomplish each day? Paint your front door the color of Metal, either gray or white.
2.  If you are looking for calmness and the energy to come to your home for abundance, use the color of the Water element, either dark blue or black.
    
3. If you are looking for healing in your home or growth of your business, use the Wood element and you will cover both bases. Use the colors brown or green.
    
4. The Earth element will take care of bringing in the energy for good health. It also provides stability and is a grounding force for everyone in the home. Use yellow or light beige. 

The Fire element will bring in the strong yang energy and support you in your career and also support you in your fame and reputation area. These colors are the reds, dark oranges and purples. What color is your door?

How to Feng Shui Your Kitchen

The kitchen is a space where family members and guests often congregate. It almost has a gravitational pull, so it makes sense to acknowledge that the kitchen has a unique energy, and to try to make sure that energy is all flowing in the right direction. That's where feng shui comes in. Rules of feng shui design can often seem indecipherable to those who are unfamiliar with the concept. Learn more about this type of design in our infographic below!

 Feng shui is all about maximizing the flow of positive energy (Chi) in your home. The placement of certain objects or pieces of furniture is believed to greatly influence this flow. Even the shape of pieces of furniture can be influenced by feng shui, which values rounded shapes like an oval table over sharp corners.

If you have a hard time making design decisions in your home, using feng shui principles can be a huge help to guide you in the right direction, especially when it comes to picking a color scheme! Determine your kitchen's direction in your home, and then use our guide to find out which colors to use. Each color scheme is derived from the five Chinese elements: wind, fire, earth, metal, and water. Read on for more tips on how to feng shui your kitchen!

Enjoy all the feng shui items in this stunning Feng Shui Kitchen Box to bring great chi to your kitchen. The kitchen box includes 9 delightful items to bring abundance and positive energy to the kitchen, a symbol of health and vitality.

For more information on the Kitchen Feng Shui Box please visit here. 

Included in the box is:

• Faceted crystal apple to attract beneficial energy and promote harmony in the home
• Ceramic dragon imbues your kitchen and home with strength and good health
• Carved sage represents clean clearing energies
• Ceramic tea bag holder holds your sage for symbolizing clearing and cleansing
• Lucky cat creamer beckons wealth and abundance in your kitchen 
• Mandarin oranges to symbolize good fortune
• Scented candle on carved stand to enjoy during meals
• Bagua shaped mirror to deflect negative energy or to bring in beautiful views 
• Lucky red wish envelope for writing your wishes on paper

Chinese New Year 2018

Chinese New Year starts on February 16 and lasts for 15 days. This is China’s most colorful and important event of the year. This year it is named “The Year of the Earth Dog."There is a total of 12 animals and they rotate throughout the years. There are many activities that happen during this time. On the first night of the celebration, there are fireworks to let go of the old and bring in the new, just like we do here in the USA. Also, on this night, they open all the windows and all of the doors in the house to allow the old year to go out! They have large parades and the lion dancing sways back and forth to the beat of the drummers. On the 5th day of the New Year is the Chinese Lantern Festival and it is very colorful and beautiful. You will see paper lanterns made of the animal of the year and also large lanterns that are displayed in their parades animal. Clean your house well in advance of the New Year. Do not sweep or clean on New Years’ day or it will represent you sending your wealth out the door. All brooms need to be in closets.

1. Wear some red on Chinese New Year Day, since it is believed to be a happy color and symbolizes a bright future. 
2. Clear your mind of clutter on this day and make sure that your living areas are clutter free. 
3. Give out red envelopes with a dollar bill coin to families and guests. The red envelopes can be purchased on Amazon.com. 
4. Decorate your home with nuts, oranges and sweets on a beautiful tray. You most certainly should add chocolate gold coins to this mix as well. 
5. Entertain your friends and laugh and enjoy the evening 
6. Open every door and every window on the stroke of midnight to let out the old year. 
7. Clear your mind of “clutter” this day and keep your thoughts bright and optimistic for the coming New Year. 
8. Don’t scold your children or cry on this day for if you do, it will symbolize what you are coming year will play out for you. 
9. Postpone washing your hair this day as you will be washing out your good luck. 
10. Display large bowls of oranges on the tables to give to your friends and family as gifts. 
11. Feng Shui expert Grandmaster Too has shared her traditions with students and followers of Feng Shui during her training sessions. She has told them that early in the morning of the New Year, she brings in a truck full of oranges and she rolls them from the front door straight through her whole house. She is creating her own luck by following this ancient tradition. 

Chinese New Year Day 

1. Wake up New Year’s morning to good music, friends, and partners and just be grateful for your wonderful life. Do all things on this day to establish habits for the year. Make plans to do what you wish to do for the rest of the year. Really enjoy yourself and keep a good balance in all things. 
2.  Call, text or email family members or friends with whom you wish to have contact with in the New Year. This will follow you through 2017 
3. Wear something new and take care to look extra special that day. Do not dress in black or white that day because Chinese look at those colors as funeral colors. Wear red for fortune when possible. Do your hair & makeup, but do NOT wash your hair this day as it is symbolic to throwing your good luck away. 
4. Since this is a day to be festive in your mood with a joyful atmosphere, you should not argue with others on this day. Say ONLY nice things and do not lose your temper. It sets the pattern of peace & harmony for the year. Try not to use many sharp objects (like knives and scissors) on this day as it is symbolic of cutting into your luck. 

Happy 2018 the Year of the Earth Dog!

 

Rock your Living Space with Feng Shui

Most of the time, your living room is also the “company” entertaining space. The family room is usually your family hang out space. When looking at your living room area, remember that this area is creating your reputation with others you are entertaining. Therefore, if the Feng Shui of the space isn’t very good, it affects your relationships.

The best shape for your living room should be a regular shape, either a square or a rectangle. If your only option is an L shaped or irregular shape you must fill in this space to complete a well maintained Feng Shui room. You can do this by adding “more space” with mirrors.

Feng Shui Tips for Your Living Room: 

• Utilize the elements, water, fire, metal, earth and wood in the corners of the room. You don’t have to use all of them within the space, just a symbol in the area will work fine. For example, the water element that is located in the South will support your career.
  
  
• When you have corners that protrude into the room, add tall plants to diffuse this negative energy.
  
  
• Check out your artwork to make sure that it is a symbol of positive energy. You wouldn’t want a picture of a large, aggressive animal in this space as it would sublimely create discomfort in the room.
  
  
• Lighting is very important to keep a “yang” energy with in the room to keep conversations lively.
  
  
• If you are looking to bring more wealth into your home, this is the space to work the Feng Shui magic. Place items that symbolize wealth coming into your home in the far left hand corner of the space. Combine the color of purple in your décor and it will also enhance the prosperity in this same space.
  
  
• You can also place the colors of the elements, red (fire), blue (water), green (wood) yellow (earth), silver (metal) within your décor on a coffee table. You can easily add these colors with candles on a tray or colored glass in a bowl.
  

Make your spaces work for you and your family by utilizing some of these tips and you all will realize the benefits of Feng Shui.

If you enjoyed this article and would like more tips, please connect with me on my Facebook page here.

Chinese New Year Tips to be applied before February 8, 2016

Chinese New Year starts on February 8 and lasts for 15 days.  This is China’s most colorful and important event of the year.  This year it is named “The Year of the Fire Monkey.”  There are a total of 12 animals and they rotate throughout the years.  There are many activities that happen during this time.  On the first night of the celebration, there are fireworks to let go of the old and bring in the new, just like we do here in the USA.  Also, on this night, they open all the windows and all of the doors in the house to allow the old year to go out!  They have large parades and the lion dancing sways back and forth to the beat of the drummers.    On the 5^th day of the New Year is the Chinese Lantern Festival and it is very colorful and beautiful.  You will see paper lanterns made of the animal of the year and also large lanterns that are displayed in their parades animal.  If you want to know your Chinese animal sign, click here: 

1. Clean your house well in advance of the New Year. Do not sweep or clean on New Years’ day or it will represent you sending your wealth out the door.  All brooms need to be in closets.
2. Wear red since it is believed to be a happy color and symbolizes a bright future.
3. Give red envelopes filed with crisp dollar bills to children.
4. Decorate your home with nuts and sweets on a beautiful tray.  You can also add chocolate gold coins to this mix as well.
5. Entertain your friends and laugh and enjoy the evening.
6. Open every door and every window on the stroke of midnight to let out the old year.
7. Clear your mind of “clutter” this day and keep your thoughts bright and optimistic for the coming New Year.
8. Don’t scold your children or cry on this day for if you do, it will symbolize what you are coming year will play out for you.
9. Postpone washing your hair this day as you will be washing out your good luck.
10. Display large bowls of oranges on the tables to give to your friends and family as gifts.

Feng Shui expert Grandmaster Too has shared her traditions with students and followers of Feng Shui during her training sessions.  She has told them that early in the morning of the New Year, she brings in a truck full of oranges and she rolls them from the front door straight through her whole house.  She is creating her own luck by following this ancient tradition.    

                                    

Chinese New Year Day

Wake up New Year’s morning to good music, friends, and partners and just be grateful for your wonderful life. Do all things on this day to establish habits for the year.  Make plans to do what you wish to do for the rest of the year.  Really enjoy yourself and keep a good balance in all things.

Call, text or email family members or friends with whom you wish to have contact with in the New Year.  This will follow you through 2016.

Wear something new and take care to look extra special that day.  Do not dress in black or white that day, because Chinese look at those colors as funeral colors.  Wear red for fortune when possible.  Do your hair & makeup, but do NOT wash your hair this day as it is symbolic to throwing your good luck away.

Since this is a day to be festive in your mood with a joyful atmosphere, you should not argue with others on this day.  Say ONLY nice things and do not lose your temper.  It sets the pattern of peace & harmony for the year.  Try not to use many sharp objects (like knives & scissors) on this day as it is symbolic of cutting into your luck. 

I am available for Feng Shui consultations, speaking and coaching and can be reached at 412-215-8247 or yvonnephillips1@aol.com

Wealth comes to you in Many Different Ways

Your concept of wealth depends on your level of satisfaction and varies depending on your personal priorities and belief system. Although wealth does imply material gain, it’s important to note that people’s needs are different. In general, the ancient Chinese felt wealthy if they had an abundance of food, shelter, and livestock. Prosperity not only included health, family and love it also indicated an increase in resources.

For example some might feel wealthy as long as they have enough food on the table and a protective roof over their head. Others only feel wealthy if they can buy a Porsche. Examine yourself and determine what wealth means to you—careful introspection will tell you where you may need to make adjustments. However you measure Wealth, it’s important to make sure it does not become a prison that locks you away from generosity and love.  Self-cultivated and enlightened persons are aware that money is not the purpose of life.  A simple life of contentment is true wealth. 

The concept of Prosperity has a wider scope. Although it can refer to increasing your material possessions, its main focus is health, family, love and personal growth.  To prosper means to gain much more than material possessions. It means having the things that money cannot buy. Almost often Prosperity brings a feeling of security and contentment.

The elements are out of balance this year of the Fire Monkey-not so good! Water is missing and you need to add a lot of it bring in this element to your environment. Many of the symbols of Wealth and Prosperity are related to water. However there are sub-meanings as well.

Here are three of the many relevant symbols:

Goldfish— not only because they live in water, but also because having plenty of fish to eat was something the ancient Chinese considered to be evidence of prosperity.  The Goldfish do not have to be live; you can have pictures or a likeness of them in art.

Fountains— flowing water represents Wealth and Prosperity flowing into your life. Clean drinking water and water for agriculture was a necessity for the ancient Chinese, so the availability of it was a large part of what the ancient Chinese considered prosperity. Flowing water brought abundant crops and health. Fortunately these days you can purchase a miniature fountain that is practical for almost any living space. 

Plants and Foliage— successful agriculture was essential to the concepts of Wealth and Prosperity to the ancient Chinese.  Water was and is essential to having an abundance of food. Additionally, the complimentary element to Wealth and  Prosperity is wood, so you’ll want to include some objects representing the wood element as well.

The contemporary methods of Feng Shui associate Wealth and Prosperity issues with the back left corner of any space. If you stand at your front door facing into the house your wealth area is at the back of the house on the left-hand side. Face any room from the doorway of the room and the wealth area is the back left corner. These are usually the places you’ll want to pay attention to this year.

Finally, there are things you can practice and actions you can take that will help you maximize the opportunities the year offers.

Eliminate clutter in your house. Clutter represents stagnant energy and disorder—two things that will inhibit any opportunities for Wealth and Prosperity. Although you should keep a clutter-free and orderly house, pay particular attention to the Wealth and Prosperity areas of each room.

Fix things that are broken—especially the Wealth and Prosperity areas. Anything that doesn't work as it should is a sign of something wrong in the area of your life that corresponds to that part of your space.

Organize your finances. Think of this as removing financial clutter. Clean out and organize your purse and wallet. Start handling your money as though you value it. Keep your checkbook balanced and pay your bills on time. If you neglect your money, it will neglect you.

Practice generosity. Wealth and Prosperity needs to flow through your life, not just into it. If you don't yet have ample money to share, give as generously as you can of your time, energy, compassion, and appreciation.

Finally, remember that it’s too easy to focus on financial and material increase than it is other forms of Wealth and Prosperity. Unfortunately this is largely due to our current culture’s concepts than the ancient truths of Feng Shui. If your family is safe, secure, healthy and happy you may already be Wealthy and Prosperous.  In that case, practicing Feng Shui correctly can not only help you keep that, it could even increase it!

                                  yvonnephillips1@aol.com      412-215-8247

Thanksgiving Day in the USA

The very first Thanksgiving Day event was not considered an event, it was a happening! Everyone came together and brought their best displays of food and sat down for a meal that provided them with soul comfort and celebration for the end of the harvest season.

Today we still celebrate with our family and friends and even those who are far away from their families usually have a family to support them, whether they are the college student or one of our military who happens to be stationed in our area.

People were integrated with the earth because they harvested their own fresh food, they baked their own breads and of course, used everything locally. They used vines to make baskets and they used gourds for drinking cups and they used straw for mats. What a concept for us now as we try to bring this back into our lives! So many look at the buy local as something new! Our décor today is mums, gourds, corn on the cob and straw and they are all of the earth.

When you think of our baked brown turkey and stuffing and acorn or butternut squash and sweet potatoes; they all represent these same traditions as in the past. Some tips that will insure that everyone has a comfortable relaxed atmosphere are:

A round table or an oblong table will create good family relationships and great conversations. No worries if you only have a square table, the softness of a tablecloth and round dishes will also help your family to have a good experience. The elements of Feng Shui are, metal, earth, wood, fire and water. If these elements are in our surrounding area in the room this will also support a good balanced environment.

If you happened to use green placemats and have a salad in that location, this would cover the wood element. If you would add to the table the white dinner napkin, it is symbolic of the metal element. The addition of lovely candles and now you have the fire element to keep people energized. By placing a goblet of water on the table, you will have covered that element also. Your food will be the best of all of these elements as it is of the earth!

 Here are the basics:

• Create great seating arrangements.
• Set lovely dinner table décor and settings. Now is the time to use those dishes in the China Cabinet and the real silver.
• Complete the whole process with the addition of the 5 elements of Feng Shui. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day!

If you would like to know more about Feng Shui or would like to schedule a consultation or training with Yvonne, please call 412-215-8247 or email yvonnephillips1@aol.com

Balance Your Holiday Season - Sparks & Sparkles Workshop

How’s the Feng Shui in your Car?

The most important part of your Vehicle Feng Shui is to keep it clean and clutter free.  Make sure that the windows are clean and sparkling at all times.  It is your calling card to your passengers and they will remember you, especially if they travel with you a lot.  The cleanliness will also tell a lot about you and the respect you have for your vehicle translates to the respect you have for your passengers. 

Do not keep any receipts or food papers in your car.  If you must carry food, make sure that it is in a closed container and also remember the smells can turn people off as well. 

If you have had an accident or have had a lot of accidents, ring a bell in the car to clear the energy.  If you have had a passenger that you really didn’t like the way they spoke or you just plain didn’t like them, ring a bell after they leave and before your next passenger. 

Check out www.mydoterra.com/yvonnephillips for pure oils to freshen the air.

Fresh air in the car is very good for you and your passengers to maintain a healthy atmosphere.

Areas where I would like you to pay attention to are:

Fame Area-If you have business cards, sit on the dash board, neatly in a case.  Location of this area is the middle of the wind shield area.

Wealth Area-tape a piece of purple paper underneath the steering wheel, you can even use a sticker for this.  Just make sure others can’t see it. This location is the area where you are sitting/driving

Relationship Area-place a small sheet of pink paper inside the glove compartment.  It can even be a pink  sticker.

If you go to www.fengshuipublications.com and click on Articles

Then click on Feng Shui Basics, it will also show you the map of Feng Shui that relates to each area of your life.

Keep the trunk of your car clean, so you can easily transport your items as well as any passengers that you are assisting.  No empty water bottles or food containers.

Love your home and it will love you right back!

• Name your home-whether you live in a house, apartment or shared home-with an evocative, poetic and beautiful name
• Tell your home you love it, express your gratitude for its comfort, protection, warmth, memories
• Play sacred music even while you're away (your plants and animals will be blessed, too!)
• Keep your home in excellent repair-no burnt-out light bulbs, peeling paint, leaking faucets, cracked windows and so on
• Add some sparkle and shimmer! Add some metallic wall-paper, paint or décor for some interior bling. Or hang Swarovski leaded crystal spheres in your windows, off your chandeliers or even on your altar for glittering and dancing light.
• Bring in all 5 Chinese Elements into your space: plants and flowers (wood); water features (water); light the fire or candles (fire); pretty gemstones or crystals (earth); and décor made of metal (metal)
• Give it oxygen-open your windows every single day and let Nature Herself pour easily into your home

• Put essential oil of lemon or orange on your keys and key chain .  This method opens luck with the house key so now everyday you open your front door Take your shoes off at the front door and stop bringing dirt (and who-knows-what else!) into your home. Walk around in cozy slippers, instead. www.mydoterra.com/yvonnephillips
• Make your bed each day. I love to spritz pure organic essential oils (such as lavender) onto the sheets and blankets while I'm making it.
• Make fragrant incense offerings ( sandalwood, or frankincense) for your local land spirits and protectors of your home in the early evening after the sun has set. Imagine that they are accepting the incense and you can even ask for specific protection or request that an obstacle or illness be removed.
•  Walk around the rooms of your home and the boundaries of your land or garden three times in a clockwise direction. Imagine as you're walking that you're: purifying and cleansing the energies of your living space and land; overcoming everyday obstacles; dissolving any quarrelsome energy; dissipating any illnesses.

If you are interested in using essential oils, these are the best that I have ever found: www.mydoterra.com/yvonnephillips

Feng Shui for Landscaping

Bagua Map

Landscaping Map

Locate Door for Layout

Choose any "doorway" into your garden and set up the grid!

Yvonne Phillips FSII

Creative Color & Design

Master Gardener/Phipps Conservatory

Feng Shui with my Fries Please!

Chinese Proverb says:

“If there is harmony in the house, there is order in the nation.”  “If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world.”

According to an article in the New York Times, the McDonalds Corporation joined the forces of
Feng Shui in 2008 in Los Angeles. Who would ever believe that! They did it by creating comfortable seating arrangements, good color design and great artwork.  It is the same kind of energy you want to create in your office and home.

Feng Shui is all about creating peace and harmony within your environment.  Retail managers constantly strive to keep us all in their businesses for as long as possible.  This is not always the goal of the Hospitality Industry.  Most of the time, they want a quick turn over, which means uncomfortable seating and a rushed atmosphere.

Disneyland made quite a few mistakes with its Hong Kong location. After they consulted with a Feng Shui Master, they changed the position of the door by 12 degrees.  This was to ensure that the prosperity would keep on flowing in the doors straight through the entrance way of the park. Once it was realized that they had to keep in mind the Asian culture and their love of Feng Shui, their business improved.

One of their services in this location is to cater large weddings.  The event center was designed utilizing   the number 8, which is believed to be prosperous! Their event room is 888 square meters, for this reason.  They do not use the number 4 because it is considered bad luck.  So if you are looking for a room on the fourth floor, you really are out of luck!

This ancient art will affect your mood and behavior and also be a factor in successful personal and professional relationships.  The goal is to get it right from the beginning, which means during the construction or remodeling of a building or home.  There are many ways to “fix” an area that doesn't have the correct design after it is built, but sometimes it requires more money to make any necessary changes.

Ideally, you should have a Feng Shui expert look at the property first, before you start construction. They will look at the geography of the land that will impact everyone in the building or home. The ideal location would have hills or mountains to the north and the reason is that the hills are symbolic for being protectors of the property.  The southern area for your front door is the most auspicious.
  

The next time you are hungry for the burger and fries menu, check out the restaurant and see why you like going there.  Is it the colors, the energy of the servers or is it the French fries?

Yvonne can be reached at 412-215-8247.  You can find more articles at: www.fengshuiabc1.com Yvonnephillips1@aol.com

The Harmony of the Holidays

Feng  Shui  is based on ancient principles that were set into place by man watching and

listening to the sounds of the environment.  When you are able to  duplicate this,  the natural flow of energy that we all strive to have,  will arrive on a daily basis.

When you are setting in place your holiday decorations, you increase the energy of a space (Yang energy) or decrease the energy of the space (Yin energy) in order to suit your particular goals.  If you have set into place goals for the year and you ignore the positioning of your holiday decorations, you are missing out on a great opportunity of anchoring in your wishes for the year.

If you want to light up your life, your way, try these tips to help you along!

·        Start at the outside entrance way and light it up and it will take care of bringing in the great chi energy from outside your door straight into the house.

·        Decorate early and take down late to keep the highlighting of you and your family going on for the rest of the year.

·        Add a colorful Welcome mat to the door area as it will increase your company.

·        The addition of aromatherapy right at the door sets the tone of others coming in to your house.  This can be done easily by adding cinnamon to the wreath on the door or it can be placed in plants that are closest to the front door.

·        The inside entrance should have a colorful rug and if you want to work on your wealth, place Chinese coins underneath the rug.

·        If you feel the need for safety or security in your home, light up your protectors, whether they are Foo Dogs or Lions.  This can also be two large plants at the front door.

·        Place your Christmas tree in the area you want to increase the energy. 

·        Use all the ornaments that you really like and give pleasure to you.

·        As your life changes, change your décor as appropriate.

·        Candles create the fire energy, so use appropriately.

·        Keep décor in bathrooms minimal because this is the area of Water and you don’t want it to be increased.  It is symbolic of you losing money.

·        When creating new seating arrangements make sure you are making them inviting and comfortable for your guests.

·        Utilize the colors of the year to enhance your home.  The year 2013 is Emerald green by Pantone.

·        Use Poinsettias (fire energy) to increase your wealth and if you place them in front of mirrors; you will double this intention.

·        Do not over decorate your rooms as you will create an off balance.

·        Place artwork that creates a good memory or feeling that can enhance an area of your life. 

·        The addition of coins decorated with ribbons can be placed on your trees for increased prosperity.

·        Want a special person to be a star in your house?  Make lots of star cookies.

·        Need heavenly help?  Make angel cookies.

·        Do you want a house in harmony & balance?  Bake a gingerbread house and place a light inside to increase the chi energy.

Belief makes everything possible!  The only thing that stands between you and what you want in life is the will to try and the faith to believe it is possible.

If you think you can, you can! 
Motivation Mentor

Energize your Thanksgiving Day with Feng Shui Tips

The very first Thanksgiving Day event was not considered an event, it was a happening!  Everyone came together and brought their best displays of food and sat down for a meal that provided them with soul comfort and celebration for the end of the harvest season.

Today we still celebrate with our family and friends and even those who are far away from their families usually have a family to support them, whether they are the college student or one of our military who happens to be stationed in our area.

People were integrated with the earth because they harvested their own fresh food, they baked their own breads and of course, used everything locally.  They used vines to make baskets and they used gourds for drinking cups and they used straw for mats.  What a concept for us now as we try to bring this back into our lives!  So many look at the buy local as something new! Our décor today is mums, gourds, corn on the cob and straw and they are all of the earth.

When you think of our baked brown turkey and stuffing and acorn or butternut squash and sweet potatoes; they all represent these same traditions as in the past. Some tips that will insure that everyone has a comfortable relaxed atmosphere are:

A round table or an oblong table will create good family relationships and great conversations.   No worries if you only have a square table, the softness of a tablecloth and round dishes will also help your family to have a good experience.  The elements of Feng Shui are, metal, earth, wood, fire and water.  If these elements are in our surrounding area in the room this will also support a good balanced environment.

If you happened to use green placemats and have a salad in that location, this would cover the wood element.  If you would add to the table the white dinner napkin, it is symbolic of the metal element.  The addition of lovely candles and now you have the fire element to keep people energized.  By placing a goblet of water on the table, you will have covered that element also.  Your food will be the best of all of these elements as it is of the earth! 

Here are the basics:

Create great seating arrangements.

Set lovely dinner table décor and settings. Now is the time to use those dishes in the China Cabinet and the real silver.

Complete the whole process with the addition of the 5 elements of Feng Shui.

Have a wonderful 2013 Thanksgiving Day!

If you would like to know more about Feng Shui or would like to schedule a consultation or training with Yvonne, please call 412-215-8247 email yvonnephillips1@aol.com

Getting Your Fall Look Going

Spring brings forth the large energy force of Yang because of all of the growth in nature. It is needed to encourage all plant life to stand up and shine for us!  In the fall, the weather shifts and changes into a Yin energy which is a lot softer and easier for us to navigate.   All of a sudden children are back to school, work becomes more serious and we start are winter journey of being more of a private person.  During the summer days we are out and about in public places and see a lot of people and that shifts once the weather changes.

It is very important that we make allowance for these changes and help the energy move in the right direction now.  All of the great chi earth energy comes right through the front entrances of our homes.  I strongly encourage you to walk outside and stand back at the curb and look at your front entrance way.

Check out the gardens or bushes or trees that are located in this area.  How are they doing? 

Most of the profusely flowering bushes have settled down and are in need of pruning and cleaning up of the dead leaves and flowers that have fallen to the ground.  I have started this process and I can hardly wait to bring out the jewel tone colors of the chrysanthemums.  Their brilliant colors will create the pop in your garden and surrounding your house with the warmth of fall. The deep oranges, the brilliant purples and bright yellow colors will lift our energy.  Be sure to take a look at them when you come home from work!

I always see the autumn as a wonderful time of the year.  The weather is perfect, kids are ready to get back to school and there is excitement in the air when the first bus pulls up to retrieve your child and move him back in to the world of education instead of the world of play.  This is a hugh transformation to undertake for all of us, schedules change and we have to get back to a regiment and most of us would prefer not to do this yet.  We want to hang onto our summers just a little bit longer.

While you are at the curb area, look at your front entrance way, what is going on there?  Are the flowers dead; is anything in need of de-cluttering?  Have you thought about what is next for your gardens?  Now is the time to purchase the flowering tulip and daffodil bulbs that you love to see in the spring.  A front door entrance way looks great with the addition of two tall plants at the door or two large statues.  They then become protectors’ of your front door and your family.  It is just as if you have placed two large Lion Statues in the space.

Now take a look at the front door, is it in need of painting?  Replace any Welcome Mats if necessary, anything with a touch of red is great.  Pull out those wreathes and make sure that they are looking good!  If not replace or re-glue anything that needs repaired.  Check out the bow, maybe it is time for a new one!

Are your light posts clean and have new bulbs in them and is the brass cleaned on the front door and light post?  Remember this is what others see when they come to your home to visit with you. 

Now move into the entrance way into your home.  Is it welcoming to everyone that walks through the door?  If not, add some great artwork or floral arrangements that give your guests something to look at when they walk in the door.  A subtle touch of aromatherapy here works wonders!  All of these details will help anchor in the fall season quickly and easily for you.  Happy Fall!

                Spring                           

                                                   

Fall

Feng Shui

Most people who are just starting to practice Feng Shui know that their bedroom and

their living room are very important and they focus on balancing those two rooms.  Most Real Estate Agents can tell you why—people spend more time in the bedroom and the living room than all the other rooms in the house. So it’s natural that the practice of Feng Shui makes it clear that those rooms play a vital part in determining how well peace, prosperity and harmony flows into our lives.

But although those rooms are important, there is another part of the house that is just as important, but almost always overlooked:  the entry way. Ch’i enters the house through doors and windows and the major part of Ch’i enters through the front door (or the main entrance).  The entryway, how it’s constructed and how it’s arranged and/or decorated determine the quality of Feng Shui that is experienced by the entire household.

The entrance to your house plays a huge role in creating an environment of peace, prosperity and harmony. It’s the first thing you experience when you enter the house and the last thing you touch when you leave the house. Many of the oldest religions recognize this. Judaism uses a Mezuzah on the doorframe to demonstrate that their home is a sanctuary in miniature of holiness. Catholics use Holy Water at the entrance of their churches so people can anoint themselves before they enter the sanctuary.  While the exact reasons may vary, it’s clear that the entryway is thought of as a portal of peace and harmony by many different cultures and religions. Most probably, Feng Shui, was taking advantage of this idea thousands of years before Judaism and Christianity.

The idea of Feng Shui is to create the flow of positive energy (Ch’i). Unless you pay attention to where that flow begins, it will be impossible to control that flow. Even worse, since the entry way is the largest portal for Ch’i, it literally determines how much positive energy comes into your home.

Given the importance of this topic, the next few articles I write will explain how to create an entry way that is conducive to bringing peace, harmony and prosperity into your home.

The first consideration you’ll want to make is where the entrance is. Most homes have two main doors: one that was built by the architect (the front door) and the side entrance, which is usually an entrance from the side of the house or the garage.  Most often, the occupants prefer one of the other for reasons of convenience. So the first rule is to pick one.  Decide on which entryway to use and make sure all occupants use that one exclusively.  Of course, using the other door occasionally is fine if you’re emptying the trash or if the door leads to the garden. Once you’ve determined where the portal is, then it’s time to consider how to use it in order to maximize its potential to attract and channel  the positive energy that is vital to helping you create a life and an environment that’s charged with peace and prosperity.

In the next article we’ll talk about the primary element of the entrance: the door and how to make sure it’s harmonious with everything good that you want in your life.